Tank vs Tankless Water Heaters for Your Brooklyn Home

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Have you ever had one of those moments when you’re in the midst of a nice, hot shower and then all of a sudden you start to feel it grow cooler and cooler and then…SURPRISE!!! You’re hit with what feels like icy, cold water. Now what?

It may seem that upgrading your current water heater in Brooklyn from 20 gallons to 60 gallons might be the solution, or just resolve to taking short showers, but neither of these need to be the end-all-solution.

This issue can more appropriately be resolved by switching to a more efficient tankless water heater for your home. This new design of heating water takes up less space than your old tank water heater and is much more energy efficient, by only heating the water, as needed, instead of trying to keep a reservoir constantly heated. 

Continue reading to learn more about the differences between tank and tankless water heaters, and if you’re ready to replace your old tank water heater with a tankless water heater, contact the experts at Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning!

Call (718) 748-1254 Call (718) 748-1254

Differences Between Tankless Water Heaters and Tank Water Heaters

Tank water heaters include insulated tanks. Depending on their size, they can hold from 20 to 120 gallons of water. Each model will have an electric or gas burner. Users get continuous hot water flow until it is depleted, leaving only cold water in the tank. The “first hour rating” refers to the number of gallons of hot water to expect in one hour. Even though insulated, heat can be lost through the tank walls.

On Demand Heating vs. Heating and Storing Water

Tankless water heaters provide consistent hot water while saving energy. It solves the problem of heat loss and running out of hot water. As long as the heating capacity is big enough to meet a home’s hot water demands, they will never run out. No heat is lost because the water is only heated as needed.

A conventional water heater operates by maintaining a tank of water warm and prepared to go. Such a hot-water tank can be occasionally called a storage hot water heater because it actually does keep hot water for when you will need it. The water is warmed through a heating component powered most usually by electricity or gas, but also occasionally by propane, petroleum, and even solar power. What this means is that you just must then watch for the complete tank to warm backup when you require hot water again. Moreover, it is possible to run from hot water.

Size of Heating Elements

A major difference between the two is the size of the heating element. Smaller elements are in the tank water heaters. They also have smaller burners that use 30,000 to 50,000 BTUs per hour. A half inch gas line is adequate, and it has a modest air intake. Tankless versions have large burners, require bigger gas lines, and need 30 cubic feet of air per minute.

Flow rates between the two are substantially different. Tankless versions have a minimum flow rate of .5 to .6 gallons per minute. They won’t come on at anything less. This can be a problem with some faucets.

The initial cost of a tankless water heater is much higher, yet studies have shown a 22 to 36 percent energy savings when compared to a tank water heater. One would be looking at a 20 to 40 year payback time before acquiring large savings.

Maintenance

The last difference is the amount of maintenance required. It is greater with the tankless versions. Depending on the location, it may need freeze protection systems. Many times a water softener is required due to scale build-up within the unit.

Pros and Cons of Using a Tankless Water Heater

There are pros and cons with both tank and tankless water heaters. Whether you prefer electric or gas, tank or tankless, there are differences in energy savings, in the maintenance and in installation of each. 

Tanked Water Heater Pros & Cons

The tank water heater, also known as the storage water heater, requires little maintenance and can be used in any home. They hold between 20 and 120 gallons of water, they require the use of a heating element and they are insulated. 

Even though they are insulated, heat escapes and depending on the size of the water heater and amount of water usage, homeowners may run out of hot water. Large hot water heaters cost more to use. While the pilot light on gas hot water heaters help to keep the water hot, most of this energy is lost during use.

Tankless Water Heater Pros & Cons

Tankless hot water heaters never run out of hot water but they cannot be used in just any home. They require necessary changes in the wiring of the home. The homeowner may have to upgrade electrical breakers because the tankless hot water heaters use more electricity. 

When low-flow is used the water heater will not turn on. This type of water heater costs more to purchase, more to install and more to maintain. Hard water build up continues to be a problem for those who use tankless water heaters and a water softener must be used.

Without a tank to eventually rust out, no constant demand on your utilities to heat the water (which still seems to always run out at the worst possible moment!), and an increase in savings on your water and energy bill, the tankless heater will pay for itself practically over time though.

Your Brooklyn Hot Water Heater Experts

Are you ready to enjoy hot water on demand while saving money? Or maybe you need to repair the hot water heater you already have? Call Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning today for expert water heater service in Brooklyn!

Call (718) 748-1254 Call (718) 748-1254

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